The idea for today's snowflake is more than two decades old. Current events, as well as a stockpile of safety pins from participating in 16 years of cycling events and numerous boxes of beads that add tremendously to snowflake appearance and texture, forced my imagination into productivity.
We always get a bunch of safety pins with every ride bib.
Six times I started this snowflake over before I finally came up with a design I literally went nuts over.
Then came the process of selecting a name for it.
Initially I wanted to name it after one of our Collegiate Peaks because I've saved those names for new techniques I've never tried before. Harvard Snowflake didn't seem to fit this beauty.
My next thought was Safety Pin Snowflake because, well, that's the guts of it. But that didn't really sit well, either.
I briefly toyed with the idea of Safety Dance Snowflake because the memory of my youngest brother bouncing around on the dance floor like a pogo stick really made me giggle. If only his daughters could see video of that!
What truly inspired today's snowflake, though, was my grandmother teaching me, at the age of about 5 or 6, to make jewelry with beads and safety pins. What I'd give to find out whatever happened to the elaborate Squash Blossom necklace we created with gold safety pins and turquoise-colored beads about half a century ago.
Perhaps I should make another one, in her memory...
After making the turquoise version of this snowflake, I thought it needed more color. I decided to add some gold beads. I glued them in place.
After soaking the first batch of snowflakes in liquid starch, I realized the safety pins might rust. I decided not to take a chance. I blow dried them, which took about five minutes for the entire batch. That worked. Not a single spot!
Another thing to beware of when pinning this snowflake... DO NOT PULL IT TOO TIGHT!!! I pulled one snowflake too tight, and the jump ring opened, allowing crochet stitches to escape. The safety pins were easy to put back in place. The triple trebles were another story. That experience alone almost makes it worth fighting double rings instead of jump rings to join the safety pins!
You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!
Finished Size: 5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, 10mm jump ring, jewelry pliers to open and close jump ring, 6 .5-inch to 1-inch safety pins, adequate beads to fill 6 safety pins, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line
Grandma's Snowflake Instructions
Thread beads onto each safety pin and close safety pin.
Open jump ring wide enough to fit safety pins, making sure each safety pin is facing the same direction as the rest.
Close jump ring.
Round 1: 1 sc in top of any safety pin, * ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 1, 1 trtr over jump ring, ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 1, 1 sc in next safety pin, ch 6, 1 sc in same safety pin from opposite side of previous sc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last ch 6 and last sc of final repeat; ch 3, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 6 loop of Round.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of tr directly below, * ch 5, 1 sc in next trtr, ch 5, 3 dc in next ch 6 loop, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 7, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 1 (teardrop picot made), 3 dc in same ch 6 loop; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.
Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.
If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.
If you have problems with a 10mm jump ring, then just use a 10mm split ring. Perhaps a little harder to get the pins on, but you can't pull it apart - as you can with a jump ring. =>/<=
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan! I actually bought a set of gold split rings last night so I can make some more and not have to worry about pinning. Well, except for the drying part... :)
DeleteThat is sure a creative one indeed. 2 decades is a long time for an idea to come to fruition, wow.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat! I wonder if the pattern would have been this cool had I worked it up 20 years ago... Ha ha ha!
DeleteI really like that a lot!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle! I'm really glad you like it!
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